Mishkeegogamang First Nation

Mishkeegogamang First Nation is an Ojibway band government (First Nation) in the Canadian province of Ontario. Until 1993, the band was called the Osnaburgh First Nation, with various settlements at times being called New Osnaburgh, Osnaburgh House, or Osnaburgh ("Oz" for short). The traditional territory of the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway extends to the north, south, east and west, beyond the boundaries of Reserves 63A and 63B. The traditional territory is made up of the communities of the Main Reserve, Bottle Hill, Poplar Heights, Sandy Road, Doghole Bay, Rat Rapids, Cedar Rapids, Ten Houses, Eric Lake, Ace Lake, Metcalfe, Pashkokogan, Mile 50, Fitchie Lake, Mile 42, Mile 29, Menako Lakes, and the shores of Lake St. Joseph. Mother Tongues: Ojibwe Anishinaabemowin, ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᒧᐎᓐ

It is located along Highway 599 in the Kenora District, approximately south of Pickle Lake. Its total registered population as of March 2022 is 2,028 (of which the on reserve population was over 1,000 people as of the 2016 Census). At one time a member of the Windigo First Nations Council, Mishkeegogamang First Nation is not part of any regional tribal councils as of 2015; however, they have retained their membership with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

The Mishkeegogamang First Nation's landbase consists of two reserves, the smaller Osnaburgh Indian Reserve 63A and the larger Osnaburgh Indian Reserve 63B. The First Nation land is located within two districts, the smaller Osnaburgh 63A is located in the boundary of the Thunder Bay District, meanwhile the larger Osnaburgh 63B is located in the boundary of the Kenora District. Mishkeegogamang does not observe daylight saving time. Oz is made up of separate and somewhat geographically disconnected communities. On their main reserve are the communities of Bottle Hill, Poplar Heights and Sandy Road. A community about south called Ten Houses is also associated with this First Nation. Additionally, some small communities called Doghole Bay, Eric Lake, Ace Lake and a few others are also associated with Osnaburgh.

Mishkeegogamang First Nation has year round access by road, It is located along Highway 599 in the Kenora District, approximately south of Pickle Lake. The community is also served by nearby Pickle Lake Airport for passenger and cargo services to all flying destinations.

Water, sewage services, garbage, street plowing and snow removal are provided by Mishkeegogamang First Nation. It also contracts out several services to private companies off reserve for other work needed, such as electrical, plumbing and propane services for the residents of the First Nation
Mishkeegogamang First Nation is connected to the provincial grid through the Wataynikaneyap Power transmission line via Pickle Lake Substation. The primary telecommunications carrier is Bell Canada which provides telephone, cellular, television and internet services to the First Nation. Although residents can subscribe other corporations such as Starlink, Shaw, Xplornet, Virgin Mobile, Neighbourhood Connection, Kuhkenah Network (KNET), Koodo Mobility and many more.

Mishkeegogamang First Nation is governed by one Chief and five Band Councillors who are elected every two years. Mishkeegogamang is not affiliated with any tribal organization, but is associated with Nishnawbe Aski Nation lobby group. Mishkeegogamang is policed by the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, an aboriginal based service. The Mishkeegogamang NAPS detachment can also refer cases to the Pickle Lake detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, in nearby Pickle Lake. Mishkeegogamang First Nation residents vote in the Kenora federal riding and the Kiiwetinoong provincial electoral district. Kiiwetinoong has a population of 32,987 and means "North" in Ojibwe. Kiiwetinoong is 68 percent indigenous.

The Mishkeegogamang people are Ojibway who are believed to have originated in the Great Lakes region. The tribe might have moved north when European Hudson's Bay Company traders started establishing interior posts and routes, or possibly beforehand. Their arrival pushed the previous Cree occupants farther northward. Since the 1980s, the site (which is not inside the boundaries of the first nation) has been the Old Post Lodge fishing camp.

In 1905, the Government of Canada sent commissioners to the area to attain the land for the Crown. Treaty 9 between them and the Mishkeegogamang (among other groups) set aside two pieces of land for reserves (Osnaburgh 63A and 63B) with the promise that the people would not necessarily have to live on the reserves and would have full use of all of their traditional lands. The tribe was formalised at this time with Missabay chosen as the first chief and a band and council system was instituted. The completion of Highway 599 in 1954 from Savant Lake to an earlier mine road brought great social change to the Mishkeegogamang. The highway was several kilometres from Osnaburgh village (in Osnaburgh 63A), so the government encouraged people to move a new village, New Osnaburgh , on Doghole Lake (Osnaburgh 63B) which today is the Main Reserve. MIshkeegogamang maintains strong ties with Cat Lake First Nation, Slate Falls First Nation and the Ojibway Nation of Saugeen.

+ChiefElected YearExpiry YearOtherDaniel MissabayPrior to 1905Osnaburgh Band of Ojibways signed The James Bay Treaty (Treaty No. 9)Daniel Missabay19051908Died. 1908George Wawaashkung190819141st timeKeewaykeesicquayosh191419151st timeGeorge Wawaashkung191519162nd timeJohh Skunk191619231st timePeter Moquano192319261st tmeJames Ruben192619291st timeJohn Carpenter192919351st timePeter Moquano193519382nd time, ResignedWilliam Semia Oombash193819411st timeJames Masakeyash194119651st timeLevius Wesley 196519671st timeJames Masakeyash 196719692nd timeSam Skunk196919711st time, ResignedRobert Lastheels197119751st timeDaniel Panacheese197519771st timeMaurice Loon197719781st time, ResignedAloysuis Kaminaiwash197819811st timeRoy Kaminaiwash198119831st timeMaurice Loon198319852nd timeRoy Kaminaiwash198519932nd time"Osnaburgh Band" name changed to "Mishkeegogamang" through Band Council ResolutionRonald Roundhead199320051st timeConnie Gray Mckay200520171st timeDavid Masakeyash201720231st timeMerle Loon2023*****1st time